Mobile film distributing mechanism



Filed Dec. 20, 1955 P. J. MASSEY ET AL MOBILE FILM DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Jan. 18, 1938.

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Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED- STATES.

PATENT OFFICE;

MOBILE FILM DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Application December 20, 1935, Serial No. 55,368

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a distributing mechanism for coating machines, printing presses and the like, the mechanism being characterized in that the axes of the rolls comprising the mechanism are all disposed in a common substantially horizontal plane.

It is a well known fact in industries where relatively heavy, long rolls are used for treating liquid, semi-solid or plastic materials, such as rolls used in the printing industry, that said rolls deflect due to the fact that they are supported at their ends and ordinarily no intermediate support is permissible or possible. Of course, the degree of deflection is greatest at the center of the rolls, if the rolls are symmetrical about their transverse centers, and said deflection is a function of the length of the rolls and their weight.

Frequently, rolls of this character are utilized to work, smooth and/or uniformly distribute a mobile material carried upon their surfaces, and in some cases a plurality of contacting rolls are used for this purpose, for instance, the ink distributing rolls of a printing press. In many instances it is of vital importance that the ma terial carried on the surfaces of such rolls be closely controlled as to the thickness of the layer or film carried by said rolls and it is desired that said .thickness be maintained uniform over the entire surface area of the rolls. Due to deflection, particularly in contacting or osculating rolls, this has heretofore been substantially impossible, since banks of such rolls have heretofore been disposed in a seemingly haphazard manner, for instance, the distributing rolls of a printing press which are usually disposed one above the other and also alongside of each other. It can readily be seen that if portions of the surface of one roll bear with different weights upon portions of an adjacent roll or rolls, the thicknesses of the films or layers upon the surfaces of said rolls will vary throughout different portions of said roll surfaces.

Our invention resides in the provision of a series of contacting distributing rolls wherein the detrimental effect upon surface carried films due to deflection of the rolls is reduced to a minimum. Our invention may be used in conjunction with printing presses or like mechanisms or operations, and is particularly adaptable for use in conjunction with a roll paper coating machine, as described in our copending applications for United States Letters Patent Serial No.'40,l50 and No. 40,151, which are adapted to carry out the coating process described in the United States Patents to Peter J. Massey, Patents No. 1,921,368 and No. 1,921,369. Of course, although our present inven tion is described in its environment with a coating machine, it will be understood that, broadly, it may be used wherever a similar problem arises.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing 5 and following detailed description.

In the single drawing, a diagrammatic side elevational view of our device is illustrated as used in conjunction with a paper coating machine.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I indicates a 10 coating machine with which our invention may be used. The machine comprises essentially two sets of substantially similar instrumentalities designated generally at 2 and 3 being the mechanisms for coating the upper and lower faces of a paper 15 web 4 which passes continuously from the preliminary driers 5. The web 4 after beingv coated is passed to the final driers 6 wherein the web is dried to the desired degree. The upper mechanism'2 is suspended from a frame I which is 20 supported by columns 8 and 9. The lower mechanism 3 may be mounted immediately beneath themechanism 2.

The reference numeral l0 indicates a cylinder having a piston rod ll projecting through the 5 head thereof. Cylinder l0 may be mounted upon trunnions or bearings I2 whereby said cylinder may be rocked upon movement of piston rod II. The end of piston rod H is connected to rod l3 which is journalled at its ends in opposite frame 30 members It. The frame members I4 are supported at their bottoms in oppositely positioned lugs 01 brackets i5, the supporting connection comprising a pivot [6 whereby the frame members may be rocked. Means (not shown) is provided 35 whereby air or fluid under pressure may be introduced into the cylinder l0 either above or below the piston positioned therein, or, if desired,

a vacuum may be established above or below the pistonwithin cylinder Hi. In either case the pis- 40 ton can be moved upwardly or downwardly in cylinder i0, which of course, causes cylinder I 0 to rock about bearings l2 and frames l4 to rock about pivots It. The purpose of so operating this mechanism will be hereinafter more fully described. A pair of standards l1 may be pivotally mounted on frame members l4, said standards .being swingable or rockable about pivots 18. The upper ends of each of the standards I! carry bearings H! which support roll 20 between them. A

pair of standards 2| may be rigidly mounted upon frame member I 4, said standards carrying bear; ings 22 which support roll 23. Standards l1 and 2| may be connected at their upper ends by means of the adjustable capstan screw 24 whereby the degree of proximity of roll 26 with respect to roll 23 may be controlled.

Referring particularly to the upper mechanism 2, the apparatus hcreinbefore described is substantially duplicated. However, said apparatus is in inverted position and is carried by the frame I. A cylinder 25 is carried upon bearings 26, piston rod 21 being slidably positioned through the head of the cylinder. Piston rod 21 is, in turn, connected to rod 28 at its end which is carried by the frame members 28. Frame members 26 are pivotally secured to lugs 36 upon each side of the machine which, in turn, are carried by frame I.

Standards 3| and 32 are mounted in spaced relationship upon each frame member 28, said standards carrying bearings 33 and 34 respectively between which rolls 35 and 36 are mounted. The outer ends of standards 3| and 32, in this case, the lower ends, are adjustably tied together by means of screw 31 whereby the degree of proximity of rolls 35 and 36 may be controlled. Rolls 26 and 23 and rolls 35 and 36, hereinafter referred to as fountain or gate rolls, are adapted to carry in their respective nips a quantity of liquid or semi-liquid coating material which is delivered therefrom through appropriate agencies through the coating rolls, all of which will be hereinafter described. Of course, it is to be understood that the rolls 26 and 23 and 35 and 36 may be utilized in conjunction with other materials than coating material since the described arrangement merely serves as a source of supply for the distributingmechanism hereinafter to be described.

All of the rolls 26, 23, 35 and 36 are preferably of the same over-all diameter and are preferably separately driven. In operation, rolls 23 and 36 are driven counter-clockwise and rolls 26 and 35 are driven clockwise. Rolls 23 and 36 are adapted to carry a film of desired thickness, of coating material which is adapted to be transferred to rolls osculating therewith hereinafter described. Obviously, in utilizing a machine such as herein described, it is desirable to apply different types of coating material and different weights or quantities of coating to the web.' In our machine, such control can primarily be obtained by means of the gate rolls 26, 23, 35 and 26. To exercise such control in addition to the proper manipulation of capstans 24 and 31 which control the contiguity of each pair of rolls, said rolls are adapted to be driven at diiferent peripheral speeds, that is, rolls 26 and 35 may be driven at a different speed than rolls 23 and 36. It is preferred that the drive of rolls 23 and 36 but such as to drive said rolls from a speed equal to the speed of the rolls from which the film of coating is transferred to a speed of approximately as much. Rolls 26 and 35 are driven over a maximum range of speed preferably from one revolution a minute to full speed corresponding to the maximum speed of rolls 23 and 36.

In the lower mechanism the film of coating material is transferred from roll 23 to the distributing roll 38 which revolves in a clockwise direction. The film is transferred therefrom to distributing roll 39 which revolves in a counter-clockwise direction, thence to roll 46 which revolves clockwise. From roll 46 the film is transferred to form rolls 4| and 42, both of which revolve in a counter-clockwise direction. Form rolls 4| and 42 transfer the film to coating roll 43 which revolves in a clockwise direction and by which the film is applied to one surface of the web 4.

In the upper mechanism 2, the film. of coating material carried upon the surface of roll 36 is transferred to the surface of roll 44, which revolves in a clockwise direction. From roll 44 the film of coating material is transferred to roll 45 which rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. Roll 45 passes the film to roll 46 which revolves in a clockwise direction. Roll 46 transfers the film of coating material to the surface of roll 41 which rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. From roll 41 the film is passed to rolls 48 and 49, both of which revolve in a clockwise direction. The form rolls 48 and 49 pass the film from their surfaces to the surface of the upper coating roll 56 whereby said film is applied to the upper surface of web 4 simultaneously with the application of a similar film to the lower surface thereof by roll 43.

Rolls 43 and 56 revolve at the same peripheral speed which is equal to the linear speed of web 4.

In the lower mechanism 3, rolls 38, 33, 46, 4| and b 42 all revolve at the same peripheral speed as roll 43 and in the upper mechanism 2 rolls 44, 45, 46, 41, 48 and 49 revolve at the same peripheral speed as coating roll 56. It will be noted that all of the rolls comprising the lower mechanism 3 with the exception of the form rolls 4| and 42 have their axes disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane. Similarly all of the rolls comprising the upper mechanism 2 with the exception of the form rolls 48 and 49 have their axes disposed in a common horizontal plane. In transferring the films .of coating material from the coating rolls 43 and 56, the thickness of said film must be controlled to a fine degree of accuracy. The film in passing from roll to roll throughout the upper and lower mechanism is worked and smoothed by such passage and such rolls must consequently be carefully adjusted with respect to their contiguity. It is well known that members of relatively great weight such as the rolls herein used being supported only at their ends deflect due to their weight. By disposing substantially all of the rolls in a common horizontal plane, the

. deflection of all of said rolls is in the same direction and a film of uniform thickness may be carried throughout the entire surface of each of the rolls. This is a very important feature of our invention in view of the fact that the films of coating material or ink applied to the web to be coated orprinted must be applied in the uniform manner. Consequently said film must be prepared with the highest degree of accuracy and care, particularly with respect to its thickness and distribution.

The distributing rolls comprising the upper and lower mechanism are all of different diameters, that is, rolls 38, 39 and 46 have diiferent diameters and rolls 44, 45, 46 and 41 are of different diameters. It can readily be seen that inasmuch as the peripheral speeds of all of said rolls are equal the'fact that the diameters are different prevent the surfaces of adjacent rolls from rigidly contacting along the same line. By this provision the surfaces of the rolls are maintained in uniform condition and ridges will not be formed upon the ink or coating material carried upon the surfaces of said rolls.

Roll 38 is carried by bearings 5| which, in turn, are carried by standards 52 positioned upon each side of the machine. Standards 52 are pivotally mounted upon lugs 53. Each of the standards 52 is providedwith upward extensions 54 which carry guides 55. A bearing block 58 is slidably positioned in said guides and may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly so as to bring roll 51 carried by said bearings into desired position with respect to roll 38. Roll 51 is an idler roll and is driven only by means oi its contact with roll 38. Roll 51 in so contacting roll 38 assists in working and smoothing the film of ink, coating material or the like, carried by roll 38.

Roll 89 is carried at each of its ends in bearings 58 which, in turn. are carried at the upper ends of standards 59pivotally mounted upon lugs 80. In the case of both rolls 38 and 39, conventional means (not shown) is provided for oscillating said rolls longitudinally simultaneously with their rotation which action further assists in working and smoothing the fllm carried upon their peripheral surfaces.

Roll 40 is carried by bearing 8|, which in turn is mounted upon standards 62, positioned at each side of the machine, said standards being pivotally supported upon lugs 83.

Roll 42- is carried by bearings 64 which are slidably positioned in guides 65, said guides being carried by standards 86 which are pivotally mounted at their lower ends upon lugs 81. Bearings 64 may be moved upwardly or downwardly thereby moving roll 42 upwardly or downwardly. Roll 4| is carried by bearings 68 which, in turn, are carried by standards 89 also pivotally mounted upon lugs 81. Standards 69 comprise a frame which embraces a portion of standards 66 and the center line of bearings 64 can be changed with respect to the center line of bearings 68 by means of set'screws (not shown) threadedly positioned upon opposite sides of each of the standards 69 and adapted to bear upon the guide portion of standards 66.

Rolls 44, 45, 46, 41, 48 and 49 are mounted in substantially the same manner as rolls 38, 39, 40, 4| and 42. To simplify the description only those portions of the upper mechanism associ-.

ated with said rolls which differ from the lower mechanism will be described. In view of the fact that rolls 44 to 49 inclusive are positioned above the passing web 4, said rolls are disposed upon suspended supports, all of said supports being pivotally connected to the frame I. Frames I4 and standards 52 are connected together by means of an adjustable capstan screw I and in a similar manner standards 52, 59 and 62 are adjustably connected. The same arrangement is utilized in the upper mechanism 2 and is described in detail in our co-pending applications, Serial No. 40,150 and No. 40,151. Similar adjustments are provided between roll 40 and rolls 4| and 42, said adjustments comprising capstan screws 1|. Rolls 4| and 42 are additionally adjustably positioned with respect to roll 43 by means of the capstan arrangement 12.

Coating roll 43 is mounted upon bearings 13 which, in turn, are supported by standards 14. Roll 50 is mounted upon bearings which are pivotally secured as at 16 to standard 11 mounted "upon frame I. A rod 18 is connected to an extension 19 ofbearing 15, said rod being adapted to raise or lower bearing 15 so as to raise or lower roll 50 with respect to roll 43. This construction, however, is particularly adapted to coating machines and is not strictly essential to our present invention. The web 4 after passing between rolls 43 and 50 is coated upon each surface thereof and is subsequently passed between air conduits 80 and 8| which are adapted to direct air under pressure into contact with the coated surfaces in order to dry the same. The web 4 may then be directed overroll 82 and thence over the rolls comprising drier 6. In passing around the first drier roll air conduit 83 is adapted to discharge blasts of air under pressure into contact with the outer surface of the web. This mechanism is clearly described in our co-pending application Serial No. 40,150 and No. 51,740. A roll 84 mounted upon bearings 85 which, in turn, are carried by standards 88 may be adapted to contact roll 43 and is adapted toclean said roll after its contact with web 4, roll 84 being. provided with a doctor blade 81. An arm 88 extends outwardly from standard 86 and-is connected to piston rod 89 which is slidably positioned in the head of cylinder 90. By introducing compressed air or other fluid under pressure into the lower portion of cylinder 90, standard 88 may be rocked about its pivotal connection 9| so as to bring roll 84 into contact with roll 43. The upper mechanism is a duplication of that herein described.

As is particularly described in our copending applicationserial No. 40,151, all of the standards comprising the lower bank may be rocked clockwise by supplying fluid under pressure to the lower portion of cylinder III. In this manner all of the rolls are brought into contiguous relationship. Similarly, by supplying fluid under pressure to the upper portion of cylinder all of the standards comprising the upper mechanism will be rocked counterclockwise, bringing the respective rolls into operative contact. By supplying fluid under pressure to the opposite ends of the cylinders 18 and 25 the respective rolls may be separated, the standards being tied together by the capstan screws.

As has been hereinbefore described, the salient feature of our present invention resides in the disposition of the axes of the various rolls constituting the distributing mechanism in one substantially horizontal plane whereby the effect of the deflection of said rolls upon films carried upon the surfaces thereof is reduced to a minimum.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination, a plurality of juxtaposed rolls having their surfaces closely adjacent each other and their axes in parallel relationship, said rolls being supported adjacent their ends and being of such a length and weight as to deflect substantially at their longitudinal centers, the axes of said rolls being disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane whereby deflection of said rolls is negligible in changing the uniform clearances between adjacent roll surfaces, and means for applying a mobile coating material to one of said rolls whereby said material is transferred from roll surface to roll surface in the form of a relatively thin film of uniform thickness suitable for the coating of paper.

2. A mechanism for distributing and smoothing a mobile coating material to form a relatively thin film of relatively uniform thickness which comprises, a pair of horizontally juxtaposed gate rolls adapted to carry a quantity of mobile coating material in their nip, a plurality of serially aligned distributing rolls, one of said distributing rolls being in film transferring relationship with one of said gate rolls whereby said mobile coating material is transferred from said gate roll to said adjacent distributing roll, said distributing rollsbeing supported at their ends and being of a length and weight which causes substantial deflection, all of said rollsthaving their axes in substantially the same horizontal plane whereby deflection of said rolls has negligible effect in changing the uniform clearance between adjacent rolls.

3. A mechanism for distributing coating material comprising. a pair of juxtaposed gate rolls adapted to carry a quantity of mobile material in their nip, aplurality of serially aligned distributing rolls disposed in film transferring relationship a film of coating material from roll surface to roll surface, said rolls being supported at their ends and being of such length and weight as to deflect substantially at their longitudinal centers, the axes of said rolls being so disposed as to remove the direction of said deflection substantially 90 from a plane common to the respective lines of film transference whereby said deflection is negligible in changing the uniform clearances between adjacent roll surfaces, and means for applying a mobile coating material to the first distributing roll of said series whereby said coating.material is transferred from roll surface to roll surface in the form of a relatively thin film.

PETER JAY MASSEY. WILLIAM F. THIELE. BERT F. RAPRAGER. 

